Overview

Discover the best of Provence and combine culture and nature on this Aix-en-Provence and Verdon Gorge day trip from Avignon. Explore the Provenal towns of Aix-en-Provence and Moustiers Ste-Marie with an expert guide. Sample delicious French candy and gain insight into the ceramic trade for which the area is famous. Delve deep into the Verdon Gorge and marvel at soaring limestone peaks, then enjoy free time to swim in the lake and stroll along the beach. Your tour size is limited to eight to ensure a more personalized experience.

Highlights

Day trip (destination A to B)

Informative, friendly and professional guide

Small-group tour by minibus

Hotel pickup included

Know More about this tour

Following a morning pickup from your hotel in Avignon, meet your guide and hop aboard your air-conditioned minivan for the onward journey into the Provenal countryside. Bordered by the mighty Rhne River to the west, Italy to the east and the azure-blue Mediterranean Sea to the south, Provence is widely considered among Frances most charming and beautiful regions.

Travel first to Aix-en-Provence and wander the medieval streets with your guide. Admire 17th- and 18th-century architecture in the attractive faades of local houses evidence of the citys successful trading history. Head to a local bakery to sample a traditional French candy known as calissons, then enjoy free time to explore the towns Provenal market at your leisure.

Continue through the rolling countryside where, in the summer months, fields of purple lavender explode into bloom, then arrive in the hilltop town of Moustiers Ste-Marie. With the chirp of cicadas and the heady scents of rural Provence on the air, set off to explore the town with your guide. Moustiers Ste-Marie is built atop towering limestone cliffs and the panoramic views out over the landscape beyond are simply breathtaking.

Soak up the sunshine during a stroll through the town, known across the world for the quality of its traditional ceramics. Follow your guide to one of the towns ceramic workshops and gain insight into the production stages and traditional techniques from a skilled local artisan.

Drive onward beneath the soaring limestone cliffs of the Verdon Gorge and take in spectacular views on route. Listen as your guide explains the rivers glacial sources and details the reasons for its striking turquoise tones. Stop in the village of Sainte-Croix du Verdon and wander along the beach or bathe in the lake at your leisure.

When its time to leave, hop back in your minivan for the journey back to Avignon where your Aix-en-Provence and Verdon Gorge day trip will come to an end.

Inclusions for
Small-Group Aix-en-Provence, Verdon Gorge And Moustiers Ste-Marie Day Trip From Avignon

Hotel pickup

Expert guide

Transport by air-conditioned minivan

Calisson tasting

Workshop visit

Exclusions for
Small-Group Aix-en-Provence, Verdon Gorge And Moustiers Ste-Marie Day Trip From Avignon

Gratuities (optional)

Hotel drop-off

Food and drinks, unless specified

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking

Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel within 3 calendar days (72 hours) of the scheduled departure time, the cancellation charge will be 100% of the undiscounted tour price.

If you cancel between 4 to 7 Calendar days before scheduled tour departure,the cancellation charge will be 50% of the undiscounted tour price.

If you cancel at least 8 calendar days in advance of the scheduled departure time, there is no cancellation fee. You will receive Full Refund for the paid amount.

Please note that in case of No show, the cancellation charge will be 100% of the listed tour fare.

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Rate this tour

6 reviews by the users

monikagrzegorzekOn 06-Sep-2016

Very good! Great sights, enjoyed it all the way!

Lotta SOn 15-Jun-2016

We saw beautiful places on this trip and our guide Jeremy
was really good. There were only 3 customers, so almost like
a private tour. First we spent an hour in Aix-en-Provence.
We walked to the calisson place and then had free time. The
city was nice, but an hour was not much. There was a market,
but at least the area where they sold clothes and bags etc
wasn't very interesting. Most stalls sold the same stuff,
that looked like it was brought from China.

Next was Moustiers Ste-Marie, about an hour there too.
The village was very beautiful! There's some old place and a
good view higher on the mountain. I had lunch here so I
didn't have time to climb up, but another person on the trip
did and recommended it. You have more time to look around if
you bring your own food or just grab something quick.
Otherwise you have to eat here or in Aix.

Next stop was a ceramics workshop. It was interesting,
but it took an hour which was too long. We drove up higher
and stopped to take photos above the lake, the view was
beautiful. The canyon we only saw briefly from the car,
before we turned back to drive down to the lake. We stopped
at a place where the canyon starts and then drove to
Sainte-Croix. We had about 30 min by the lake. None of us
had swimming suits with us, but there wouldn't have been
much time for swimming anyway.

On our way back we stopped by a lavender field, but they
were not fully in bloom yet early June. The overview page
says that the trip is 9 hours and the info page says 11. For
us it was a bit over 10 hours.

I really enjoyed the trip, but I would've changed a few
things. I booked it because I wanted to see the river
canyon, but we didn't see it very much. I would have liked a
possibility to rent a boat and go to the river, but I don't
know if that's possible on this kind of tours. Though Aix
and the ceramics were interesting, I could have skipped them
to have more time in the canyon and Moustiers.

Charlotte WOn 03-Jun-2016

Overall the trip was good and Remy was a pleasant and
professional guide, but there were a few problems. The main
reason I booked this trip was because I wanted to visit the
gorge and maybe go for a swim if time. However, due to the
stop at the earthenware factory being far too long and
several members of the group not meeting back on time, we
had literally 10 minutes by the water. And then a 2 1/2 hour
drive back.

Melissa MOn 09-Oct-2015

Our tour was wonderful, I would highly recommend it. Our
guIde Emilie was wonderful, very helpful and full of
interesting and knowledgeable information. Pleasure to spend
the day with and it was fantastic to be able to visit so
many places within the one day with comfortable stops in
between. Highly recommend if not for Gorges Verdun
alone.

EGLAL ROn 17-Sep-2015

The long walk in the back streets of Aix en Provence to
try a piece of calisson was not worth it. Cours Maribeau and
Cezanne' studio would have been much more interesting. The
rest of the trip was good .
Emelie the driver was very good.